HAYS, Kan. — Technology training began Aug. 4 at North Central Kansas Technical College for 10 northwestern Kansas students enrolled in the Kansas Department of Commerce Workforce AID initiative.
Steve Swartz, Business and Manufacturing Technology instructor from Hutchinson Community College, goes over testing procedures with students enrolled in the Workforce AID program at NCK Tech in Hays. Swartz is teaching the 12-week course to 10 students, preparing them for careers in manufacturing and metalworking.
The training, announced by Midwest Energy in a news release Wednesday, was developed under the guidance of area manufacturers including Glassman Corporation, Cross Manufacturing, CASHCO, Carrico Implement, Swift Bullet, Wellhead Systems and APAC, and is funded by a $120,000 grant from Midwest Energy and CoBank. Training focuses on blueprint reading, precision measuring, metalworking equipment and machining processes, and provides graduates with an industry credential in metalworking. Training occurs at NCK Tech and on-site at various participating companies, enabling graduates to explore the companies before applying for positions.
Interestingly, most of the enrolled students are already employed, but are seeking additional training to make them more marketable in a region where unemployment is well below 3 percent.
“I’ve been working in the food service industry the last seven years, and it’s hard to raise kids on what that pays,” one Hays-area student said. “This type of work is totally new to me – and it’s training that employers have asked for, so it should lead to a better job.”
Another student works for an office supply company, and said he’s looking to become a better assembler. “My employer encouraged me to be here,” he said. “Learning blueprints and metalworking will help me move up to a team leader spot.”
The 12-week pilot project will open to a second group of students in the future. Anyone interested in participating in the next Workforce AID course should contact Mari Tucker at NCK Tech, at (785) 738-9051.